Choking to death: Expert warns that even the healthy are at risk from Sahara Desert smog

WARNING: Mix of power station and car fumes and dust from Africa could be deadly [GETTY]

A health expert said the choking mix of power station and car fumes and dust from Africa could spark ­ fatal heart attacks and strokes later in life.

Only the very young, old and those with long-term illness have so far been warned they are at risk from the death cloud.

But Frank Kelly, professor of environmental health at King’s College London, said Brits faced a ticking time bomb.

He said each breath of the smog would cause immediate problems for some, such as those with asthma, and “contribute to longer term problems for most of us in the form of heart disease and stroke”.

Prof Kelly, also chairman of the Department of Health’s air pollution committee, said schools were right to keep children inside at break times to stop them suffering potentially life-long lung damage.

Last night experts warned the pollution will only get worse in the future as more drivers switch to diesel engine vehicles.

It came as David Cameron admitted the tainted air stopped him from going on his daily jog yesterday.

The PM, 47, said: “I chose to do some work instead.”

A 14% increase in 999 calls related to breathing problems was reported yesterday as high pollution levels affected huge swathes of the UK.

Air quality tests showed that London and the south-east experienced pollution at the maximum level of 10.

Danger zones also include East Anglia, the Midlands, parts of Wales and the north-west.

The Weather Channel UK predicted air quality would improve slightly today as the haze moved out towards the North Sea.